CA2177429A1

CA2177429A1 - Reduced fat cheese-flavored snack filling

Info

Publication number: CA2177429A1
Application number: CA002177429A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Charles Allen Rodgers
Original assignee: Kraft Foods Inc
Current assignee: Mondelez International Inc
Priority date: 1995-06-29
Filing date: 1996-05-27
Publication date: 1996-12-30
Also published as: EP0750843A3; EP0750843A2

Abstract

A 1ow-fat, reduced-fat, or fat-free cheese-flavored filling for use in snacks, including for example, crackers, wafers, or other shaped flour-based snack foods, is provided. The reduced-fat cheese-flavored fillings allow for snacks having texture, flavor, and mouthfeel similar to conventional snack products with significantly reduced levels of fat. The snack filling generally has less than about 15 weight percent fat, preferably less than 10 weight percent fat, and most preferably less than 2 weight percent fat. The snack filling generally contains (1) about 15 to 40 weight percent glycerine; (2) about 3 to 25 weight percent of a binding agent selected from the group consisting of maltitol, sorbitol, and corn syrup; (3) about 5 to 35 weight percent dehydrated cheese; (4) about 0.5 to 5 weight percent natural cheese flavors; (5) about 10 to 25 weight percent food starch; (6) about 0.2 to 8 weight percent of a cellulose-based thickening agent; (7) about 0 to 15 weight percent whey protein concentrate;
(8) about 3 to 8 weight percent salt; and (9) about 0 to 15 weight percent water.

Description

2~77~2g REDUCED-FAT C~EESE-FLAVORED SNAC}~ FI~LING
Field of thP TnvPnt;~n The invention generally relates to the field of low-fat, reduced-fat, and/or fat-free snack products.
S More spe~ 1y, this invention relates to a low-fat, reduced-fat, or fat-free cheese-flavored filling for use in snacks, including, for example, crackers, wafers, toaster pastries, or other flour-based snack foods. The reduced-fat cheese-flavored fillings of this invention lo allow for snacks having texture, flavor, and mouthfeel similar to conventional snack products with significantly reduced levels of fat.
8ack~s-lnt9 of th~ InvPntion The human consumption of fats in various 5 foodstuffs contributes significantly to obesity. Snack foods, which are often eaten between meals, can represent a significant proportion of fat intake in many diets.
~igh fat diets also contribute to various human disease~
such as heart and coronary artery diseases. One method ~o of reducing obesity and/or diseases such as heart and coronary artery diseases in the human population is to reduce the consumption of fat. In recent years, fat su~citutes or low-calorie fats have attracted increa~ing attention as a method of reducing the fat and calorie 25 content of foodstuffs. The objective is to provide edible fats with reduced absorption and digestive properties with minimal side effects and with acceptable taste and mouthfeel characteristics when incorporated into food compositions.
In recent years reduced-fat snack foods such as rr21- kt~rq have become available Unfortunately, a ~17~42~
suitable reduced-fat snack filling for incorporation into or for use with such snack products has not been developed. In conv~nt;fln~l snack products having a cheese-~lavored filling ~eg., full-fat or reduced-fat 5 crackers with a cheese-flavo~red filling), the filling is generally Ehortening-based with various flavoring and other additives. The shortening generally acts as a binder or adhesive to hold the sandwich structure together. Since shortening is ,ocs~nt;~11y lO0 percent lO fat, the filling itself will often contain 60 to 65 weight percent fat. The resulting sandwich-type snack product usin~ such a shortening-based filling will generally contain 25 to 40 weight percent fat even if reduced- fat crackers are used .
It would be desirable, therefore, to provide a reduced-~at cheese-flavored snack filing having low or reduced-fat content which T--~ntA~n the texture, flavor, and binding characteristics normally associated with convPnt;--n~l full-fat cheeqe-flavored snack fillings. It 2~ would also be desirable to provide filled reduced-fat snacks with cheese-flavored fillings having low or reduced-fat content which m~nt~l~n the texture and flavor characteristics normally associated with convPnt-on~1 full-fat filled snacks. The filling compositions of this 2~ invention generally provide low- fat, reduced- fat, and/or fat-free cheese-flavored filled snacks having such characteristics .
Sl-mm~ v 0~ th-~ Tnvention The present invention relate~ to a reduced- fat 30 chee~e-flavored snack filling. The present snack filling generally has le~3~ than about 15 weight percent fat, preferably less than about lO weight percent fat, and ~ ~1774~
.
most preferably less than about 2 weight percent fat.
This present invention also relates to reduced-fat snack products prepared using this reduced-fat cheese-flavored snack filling. Examples of such snack products include, 5 for example, filled flour-based crackers formed with two crackers and a layer of the present snack f illing sandwiched between the crackers, whereby the snack filling bonds or adheres the rrArkrr~ together; flour-based hollow cylinder-shaped or ring-shaped crackers lo wherein the snack filling is deposited in, and fills, the hollow space in the cracker; flour-based "puffed"
crackers wherein the snack filling i8 deposited in, or injected into, the center of the cracker (such that the snack f illing is fully or partially ~Ul ~ ~u-lded by the 15 cracker); flour-based toaster pastries wherein the snack filling is deposited in, or injected into, the central portion of the pastry; and the like. As one skilled in the art will realize, other shapes and configurations (e g., multiple cracker and snack filling layers) can also 20 be used. For purposes of this invention, the u9e of the generic terms "cracker" and "snack product" is ~ntpn~d to include generally flat crackers of any shape; curved, twisted, or oddly configured crackers; "puffed" crackers;
hollow cylinder-shaped or ring-shaped rr~ckf~r~3i chip8 and 2s chip-shaped rr~rk~rFI; wa~ers; toaster pastries; and other conventionally and non-conventionally shaped flour-based snack products.
The present reduced-fat cheese-flavored snack filling can be used with ~ull-fat, reduced-fat, or no-fat 30 flour-based crackers or 8nack product8. Generally, however, reduced-fat or no-fat ~lour-based rr~rk~rs: or snack products are pref er~ed since they provide the lowest total fat content. Suitable flour-based crackers or snack products include those prepared f rom wheat, ~7~2!~
corn, oats, rice, multigrains, potatoes, and the like.
Conventional flour-based snack products ca~ be prepared using conventional cracker-making or other snack food-making procedures. The reduced-fat cheese-flavored snack S filling can be applied to, or deposited on, the cracker using conventional technio,ues and equipment.
One obj ect o~ the prese~t invention i8 to provide a reduced-fat cheeae-flavored snack filling comprising:
o (1) about 15 to 40 weight percent glycerine;
(2~ about 3 to 25 weight percent of a binding agent selected from the group consiating of maltitol, sorbitol, and corn syrup;

(3) about 5 to 35 weight percent dehydrated iS cheese;

(4) about 0.5 to 5 weight percent natural cheese flavors;

(5) about 3 to 25 weight percent food starch;

(6) about 0.2 to 8 weight percent of a cellulose-based thickening agent;
( 7 ) about O to 15 weight percent whey protein concentrate;
(8) about 3 to 8 weight percent salt; and (9) about O to 15 weight percent water;
where~n the reduced-fat cheese-flavor snack filling has less than 15 weight percent ~at and is ef~ective as a filler for flour-based snack products.
Another obj ect of thi~ present invention is to provide a reduced- fat snack product comprising one or more flour-based rrark,=~ and at least one layer o~ a reduced-fat cheese-flavored filling adhered to the flour-based crackers, whereln the reduced- ~at cheese- ~lavored f illing comprises:
(1) about 15 to 40 weight percent glycerine;

~ ~177~29 .
(2) about 3 to 25 weight percent of a bindiny agent selected from the group consisting of maltitol, sorbitol, and corn syrup;
(3) about 5 to 35 weight percent dehydrated cheese;
(4) about 0.5 to 5 weight percent natural cheese flavors;
l5) about 3 to 25 weight percent ~ood starch;
(6) about 0.2 to 8 weight percent of a cellulose-based thickening agent;
( 7 ) about 0 to 15 weight percent whey protein ~onl-~n~rate;
;8) about 3 to 8 weight percent salt; and (9 ) abou~ 0 to 15 weight percent water;
wherein the reduced-fat cheese-flavor snack filling has less than 15 weight percent fat and i8 effective as a filling for the flour-baged ~r~nkf~r~.
Still another object o~ the present invention is to provide a method for preparing a reduced-fat snack product having one or more crackers and one or more layers o~ reduced-fat cheese-flavored fill$ng, said method comprislng:
(a) preparing a dry blend comprising (1) about l to 30 weight percent dehydrated cheese, (2) about 0.2 to 5 weight percent natural cheese ~lavors, (3) about 5 to 40 weight percent ~ood starch, (4) about 0.1 to 12 weight percent of a cellulofie-based thickening agent, (5) about 0 to 25 weight percent whey protein ~nnr~ntr~te, and (6) about 1 to 15 weight percent salt;
(b) preparing a wet blend comprising (1) about 5 to 75 weight percent glycerine, (2 ) about 5 to 75 weight percent of a binding agent selected from the group consisting of maltitol, sorbitol, and corn syrup, and about 0 to 15 weight percent water;
_ 5 _ ~1~74~n (c) preparing a reduced-fat chee8e-flaYored filling by blending, shortly before use, about 20 to 75 weight percent of the dry blend, about 25 to 80 weight percent of the wet blend, and about O to 15 water to form 5 a homogenous mixture which is flowable at a tPmrprat~lre greater than about 50F;
(d) applying a prPr~PtPrm;nP~ amount of the reduced-fat cheese-flavored filling, shortly after its preparation, to a cracker to form at least one layer of 10 the reduced-fat cheese-flavored filling on at least one of the crackers in the reduced- fat snack product .
These and other objects and advantages will be apparent from a consi~Pr~t; nn of ,the present specif ication .
DPt;: ~1 ed Degrription of the Inyi~nt ~ nn The reduced-fat cheese-flavored filling of this invention generally contains (1) about 15 to 40 weight percent glycerine; (21 about 3 to 25 weight percent of a binding agent selected ~rom the group consisting of 20 maltitol, sorbitol, and corn syrup; (3) about 5 to 35 weight percent dehydrated cheese; (4) about 0.5 to 5 weight percent natural cheese flavors; (5) about 3 to 25 weight percent food starch; (6) about 0.2 to 8 weight percent of a cellulose-based thickening agent; (7) about 25 0 to 15 weight percent whey protein cnnrPntr~te; (a) about 3 to 8 weight percent salt; and (9) aoout O to 15 weight percent water . Other convPnt; nn~ 1 f ood ingredients, such as flavorings, food colorings, milk solids, skim milk solids, food-grade acids, bulking 30 agent6, PYtPn~lPr8~ processing aids, vegetable oils, animal fats, preserYatives, and the like, can also be added if desired. These other ingredients preferably should add little, if any, additional fat to the filling - ~177~
composition. Preferably, these other ingredlents, if used, should be added at relatively low levels (f.~., less than about 5 weight percent ) . Both the requlred and optional ingredients should, of course, be food-grade 5 materials.
Glycerine is generally present ln the present fllling compositions at a level of about 15 to 40 weight percent, preferably at a level of about 20 to 30 weight percent, and more preferably at a level of about 21 to 23 lo weight percent. Although not wishing to be limited by theory in regard to the function or functions of any of the ingredients, it is thought that glycerine generally acts or fl1nrt;r~nq as a humectant, a binding agent, and an adhesive. Glycerine is the primary binding agent in the 5 filling compositions of this invention.
A secondary binding agent (in addition to the primary binding agent glycerine) is also present in the present f illing compositions . Such a secondary binding agent is one or more compounds which are selected from 20 the group consisting of maltitol, sorbitol; and corn syrup. Generally this secondary binding agent is present in the present filling compositions at a level of about 3 to 25 weight percent and preferably at a level of about 5 to 20 weight percent Preferably, maltitol, when used, 25 iS present at a level of about 5 to 10 weight percent and more preferably at a level of about 7 to 8 weight percent. Preferably, sorbitol, when used, is present at a level of about 3 to 8 weight percent and more preferably at a level of about 4 to 6 weight percent.
30 Preferably, corn syrup, when used, is present at a level of about 4 to 8 weight percent and more preferably at a level of about 5 to 7 weight percent. One, two, or all o~ the~e ~ea pda y bi~d1ng a ~ ~ may be pre:ent 1= the 2~742~
filling compositions of this invention. In addition to acting as binding agents, these materials also appear to act as humectants and adhesives.
Pood starch, which appears to act as a moisture s binding agent and a thickener, is generally present in the present f illing compositions at a level of about 3 to 25 weight percent, pre~erably at a level of about 10 to 20 weight percent, and more preferably at a level of about 17 to 19 weight percent. Examples of suitable food 10 starches; ,rllltlPt9, for example, modified food starches from National Starch, American Maize, and A.E. Staley, and the like.
The present f illing compositions also contain dehydrated cheese. ~enerally the dehydrated cheese, l5 which also includes dehydrated cheese-cnnt~;n;n~
product_, is present at a level o~ about 5 to 35 weight percent, preferably at a level of about 10 to 33 weight percent, and more pref erably at a level of about 2 0 to 3 0 weight percent . Two especially pref erred dehydrated 20 cheese sources are uncolored Sequoia cheese flavor powder (CV 121) and colored Sharpee cheese flavor powder (CV
100) from Kraft Food Ingredients. Preferably both Sequoia and Sharpee cheese flavors are ~n~ P-9 in the present for.TIulations. Preferably the Se~auoia cheese 2s flavor i9 present at about 15 to 25 weight percent and more preferably at about 20 to 23 weight percent.
Preferably the Sharpee cheese flavor is present at about 5 to 10 weight percent and more preferably at about 7 to 9 weight percent.
The Sequoia cheese flavor powder generally cnnt~;nC about 20 to 25 weight percent cheese, about 20 to 25 weight percent whey cnnnPntrate, about 18 to 22 weight percent reduced lactose whey, about 10 to 15 ~ 4 2 ~
weight percent partially hydrogenated soybean oil, about 5 to 10 weight percent maltodextrin, about 2 to 5 weight percent blue cheese, about 0 to 5 weight percent salt, about 0 to 3 weight percent disodium phosphate, about 0 s to 1 weight percent citric acid, and about 0 to 0 . 5 weight percent lactic acid. The amount o~ citric and lactic acids in the Sequoia f~ t;~-~ are adjusted to obtain a pX of about 5 . 85 ~ 0 .15 (measured as a 10~
solution in water). The Sharpee cheese flavor powder lo generally contains about 50 to 60 weight percent colored cheddar cheese, about 20 to 30 weight percent whey concentrate, about 8 to 12 weight percent dried buttermilk, about 0 to 5 weight percent salt, about 0 to 3 weight percent disodium phosphate, about 0 to 1 weight 5 percent lactic acid, about 0 to 0.25 weight percent FD&C
Yellow No. 5, and about 0 to 0.25 weight percent F~&C
Yellow No. 6. The amount of lactic acid in the Sharpee formulation i9 ad~usted to obtain a pH of about 5.8 +
0.2; the colorings are adjusted to obtain the desired 20 color.
Both the Sequoia and Sharpee cheese îlavor powders are prepared in essentially the same manner. A
cheese mixture is prepared by grinding and blending the d~r U~r iate cheeses . After addlng water (to about 5096 2~ solids) and the other ingredients, the cheese mixture is heated to about 200F with agitation until h~ LUU8 (usually about 7-10 minutes or more). The ~omogenous mixture is then dried in a conventional atomizer (inlet temperature about 365 to 400F; outlet temperature about 30 165 to 195F). The cooled powder is then collected using a minimum 14 mesh screen.
The present ~illing compositions also contain natural cheese ~lavors at a level of about 0 . 5 to 5 weight percent, pre~erably at a level o~ about 0.5 to 3 ~17~
weight percent, and more pref erably at a level o about 0.7 to 1.5 weight percent. Rqp~c;~lly preferred natural cheese flavors include No. 244397 from Tastemaker and Nos. 002425M and 00240S from Edlong.
s The present f illing compositions also contain one or more cellulose-based thickening agents at a level of about 0 . 2 to 8 weight percent, preerably at a level of about 1 to 6 weight percent, and more preferably at a level o about 3 to 5 weight percent. Suitable 0 cellulose-based thickening agents include, for ex~unple, carboxymethyl cellulose, cellulose gel, cellulose gum, hydL~ y~L~yl methylcellulose, alginate, gellan, and the like. It appears that the cellulose-based thickening agen~s act aG th; rkPnPr8~ fat mimetics, and starch P~rtPntlPr8~ -Especially pref:erred cellulose-based thickening agents include rPll-~o~qe gum (LM-310 from FMC) and carboxymethyl cellulose ~No. 9H4XP from Hercules), both of which are pre~erably present at about 1 to 6 weight percent and about 0 . 2 to 2 weight percent, 20 respectively.
The preGent f illing compoGitions optionally contain whey protein concentrate at a level of about 0 to 15 weight percent, preferably at a level of about 5 to 15 weight percent, and more pref erably at a level of about 2s 10 to 15 weight percent. The whey protein r-rJnrpntr~te appears to act both as a f lavoring and a protein source .
The present f illing compositions also contain salt at a level of about 3 to 8 weight percent, preferably at a level of about 4 to 7 weight percent, and 30 more preerably at a level of about 5 to 6 weight percent. Salt appears to act as a flavoring and a microbiological control agent.

~ 7~9 The present f illing compositions optionally contain water at a level of about 0 to 15 weight percent depending on the desired water activity of the reduced-fat cheese-flavored filling composition. G~nPrAl ly the s water activity i8 ad~usted to a level C108ely m-trhin~
the water activity of the cracker to be used 80 that the cracker will not become soggy upon storage at room tPmrPr~tl~re. The water activity of the filling compositions should, however, be sufficiently high 80 that the mcuthfeel is acceptable (i.e., not too dry).
Generally a water activity of aoout 0 . 3 to 0 . 8 for the filling composition is acceptable; prefera~ly the water activity is about 0 . 3 to 0 . 5 . Water activity is generally measured using a water activity meter such as 15 Decagon CX- 2 .
If desired a vegetable oil (such as, for example, soybean oil) or an animal fat can be added to the present filing compositions to aid in lubrication.
The level of such a lubricatiny oil i8 generally in the 20 range of aoout 0 to 5 weight percent. Since such a lubricating oil will contribute to the fat content of the filling composition, it i~3 generally preferred not to use such an oil unless problem~3 arise in pumping the compositioL during assembly of the f i~al snack product .
2s Thus, most preferably the reduced-fat cheese-flavored filling does not contain signlficant amounts of a vegetable oil and/or animal fat as a separate ingredient.
The reduced-fat cheese-flavored snack fillings of the present invention can be ~Lc~a-t:d using 30 convPn~ nAl procedures and equipment. For example, the variou~ ingredients, or various combinations of ingredients, can simply be combined and blended together to form a homogeneous mixture using, for example, a .

7~2~
ribbon or other type mixer. When combined in thi8 manner, however, the fil ling composition should be u8ed relatively quickly (i e., within about 2 hourg) to prevent the composition from setting up prematurely. Generally, 5 therefore, it is preferred that the reduced-fat cheese-flavorea filling be prepared ard stored in two separate compositions -- a wet blend and a dry blend -- which are then combined ~ust before use. Preferably the dry blend contains ( l ) about 12 to 18 weight percent dehydrated lO cheese, (2~ about 1 to 2 weight percent natural cheese flavors, (3) about 25 to 35 weight percent food starch, ~4) about 8 to 12 weight percent of a cellulose-based thickening agent, (5) about 0 to 12 weight percent whey protein concentrate, and ~ 6 ) about 8 to 10 weight percent 5 salt. Preferably the wet blend cnntA;nA (1) about 50 to 60 weight percent glycerine, (2) about 25 to 50 weight percent o~ a binding agent selected from the group consibting o~ maltitol, sorbitol, and corn syrup, and about 0 to 15 weight percent water. The dry and wet 20 blends can be prepared by separately blending each of the ingredients together using a ribbon or other mixer. The two blends can be stored separately until ready for use.
In order to prepare the final filling composition, generally just before use, about 20 to 75 weight percent zs of the dry blend, about 25 to 80 weight percent of the wet blend, and about 0 to 15 weight percent water are blended together to form a I ~ ,us mixture.
Preferably, the final filling composition cnnt~in~ about 45 to 65 weight percent o~ ~he dry blend, about 35 to 55 30 weight percent of the wet blend, and about 0 to 15 weight perce~t water. Water, if required to achieve the desired water activity, can be added to either the wet blend and/or the final composition.

7 ~
Once the reduced-fat cheese-flavored snack filling is prepared, a predet~nm;n~fl amount is deposed on the desired cracker. For example, using flat crackers to form a fil'ed sandwich-type cracker, the filling is S deposited on one cracker and the other cracker i8 placed on top of the deposited f llling to spread the filling over the cracker surfaces and form the desired filled sandwich-type cracker. Or, for example, using a hollow cylinder-type cracker, a prorlpt~n;nprl amount of the 0 filling is simply deposited within, and fills, the hollow cylindrically shaped void or hole in the cracker. The reduced-fat cheese-flavored filling of this invention can be applied or deposited on the desired cracker surface using conventional equipment and techniques. The 15 predeterm~ned amount of reducéd-fat cheese-flavored filling will, of course, vary r~r~n~n~ on the size and shape of the cracker used and the desired thickness of the filling layer. Generally, however, for conv~nt1nn~l crackers of the sandwich type, the predet~ nPd amount Zo of f illing is about 1 to 2 grams and the f illing thickness is about 0 .1 to o . 2 inches . Amounts and thicknesses greater than or less than these values can also be used if desired Pref erably the reduced- f at chees e - f lavored 25 snack filling of this inventio~ is flowable at a temperature greater than about 50F, and preferably flowable at a temperature greater than about 65F, to allow for easy preparation of the filled snack products.
At room temperature and, preferably up to at least about 30 90F (once the filling composltion has set), the filling composition is relatively firm and adheres to the cracker sur~ace sufficient to form the desired filled snack product. The water activity of the filling composition can be adjusted, if necessary, by the addition of water.
35 G~nL~r~ 1 1 y the water activity of the ~illing compo~ltion ~177~
i8 ad~usted to a value of about 0.3 to 0.8 and preferably to a value of about 0 . 3 to 0 . 5 .
The following examples are ~nt~nr1~d to further illustrate the invention and ~ot to limit it.
5 Percentages ln the example and throughout the specification are given in weight percent unless specif ied otherwise .
.

~77~2~
Rl~mr l e 1 Two reduced-fat cheese-flavored snack filling compositions (Formulas A and B~ were prepared using the following ingredients:
5 No. Ingredlent Formula A Formula B
Uncolored Sequoia 22 . 0% 22 . 0%
Powder 2 Glycerine 20 . 0~ 20 . 0%
3 Modi~ied 17 . 0~ 17 . 096 Food Starch 4 Corn Syr~lp 12 . 096 12 . 096 Col ored Sharpee 8 . 096 8 . 0 Powder Partially 6 Hydrogenated 5 . o~ 5 . o%
Soybean Oil 7 Sorbitol 5 . 0~ 5 . 0%

8 Salt 5 . 0~ 5 . 0~

9 Cellulose 4 . 0~ 4 . 0%
Gum Carboxy -methyl 1. 0~ 1. 0 Cellulose 11 Natural 1. 0~6 1. 0 Fl avor 12 water 0 15 . 0 The uncolored Sequoia powder was f rom Xra~t Food Ingredients (Product No. 9399); it was a dehydrated blend 20 of 26.13% granular and blue cheeses (milk, cheese ~ 1774 .
culture, salt, enzymes); 22.21~6 whey; 20.33~ reduced lactose whey; 13.53~ partially hydrogenated soybean oil;
8.4496 maltodextrin; 5.Z6~ salt; 3.0096 sodium phosphate;
0.90~ citric acid; and 0.20 lactic acid. The glycerine s was Optim (99 . 79~) from Dow Chemical Co. The modified food starch was Polar Gel 18 from American Maize. The corn syrup was ISO Sweet 55Q0 ~rom A.~. Staley. The colored Sharpee powder was ~rom Kraf t Food Ingredients (Product No. 950503); it was a dehydrated blend of 57.429 0 cheddar cheese (milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes, artificial color); 25.00% whey; 10.029~ buttermilk; 3.88 salt; 3 00~6 sodium phosphate; 0.44% lactic acid; 0.14 FD&C Yellow No. 5; and 0.10~ FDliC Yellow No. 6.
Partially hydrogenated soybean oil was from Kraft Food 5 Ingredients (BR-9 (I-0329) ) . Sorbitol was from ICI
Americas (Sorbo 70%). Cellulose gum was Avicel IM-310 ~rom FMC Corp . Carboxymethyl cellulose was f rom ~ercules Corp. (No. 9E~4XF~. The natural cheese flavor was Tagtemaker No. 244397.
A dry blend consisting of ingredients 1, 3, 5, 8, 9, 10, and 11 was prepared in a ribbon mixer. A wet blend consisting of ing~edients 2, 4, 6, 7, and 12 was prepared by bl~n~n~ ingredients 2, 4, 7, and 12 in a ribbon mixer and then blending in melted ingredient 6 (preferably heated to about 100 to 105F). The reduced-fat chee~e-flavored snack filling compositions were prepared by blending about 60 weight percent dry blend and about 40 weight percent wet blend ln a ribbon mixture . The f illing compositions can be deposited on crackers using conventional food h~n~-; n~7 eSI'~
The f illing compositions prepared using Formulas A and B di~fer only in t~e amount of added water. Each filling composition ct~nt~;n~ less than 15 weight percent fat. Formula A has low water activity ~774~
(about 0.4); Formula !3 has moderate water activity (about 0.6) .
Rl'~?l e 2 A wet blend cnnt~1n1nrJ 55.0 weight percent glycerin, ~ 5 . 0 weight perce~t corn syrup, 10 weight percent sorbitol, and 20.0 weight percent maltitol was prepared by blending the ingredients together at about 75F in a ribbon mixer to obtain a homogenous blend. A
dry blend rontAin1nri 31.8 weight percent uncolored Sequoia powder, 10 weight percent whey protein cnnr~ntrate, 11.7 weight percent colored Sharpee powder, 30 weight percent modified food starch, 8.3 weight percent salt, 6 7 weight percent cellulose gel, 1.5 weight percent natural cheese flavor, and 0.3 weight percent carboxymethyl r~ l nAe was prepared by blending the ingredients together at about 72CF in a Lightniny' mixer to obtain a homogeneous mixture. The source and identity of the ingredients are as described in Example 1. The whey protein rnnr-~ntrAte wa~ 35~ protein No. 522-0470-302 from Xraft Fooas.
The reduced-fat cheese-flaYored filling was prepared by blendi~g 60 weight percent of the dry blend and 40 weight percent of the wet blend in a ribbon mixer until a homogeneous mixture was obtained. Preferably the 2s filling is used shortly after the ~inal blending step.
The filling composition rnntA;nGd le~s than 14 weight percent fat and had a water activity of cLbout 0.4. The filling composition of this example does not contain vegetable oil as a separate ingredient. It will, 30 therefore, generally contain less fat than the compositions of ~xample 1

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
That which is claimed is:

1. A reduced-fat cheese-flavored snack filling comprising:
(1) about 15 to 40 weight percent glycerine;
(2) about 3 to 25 weight percent of a binding agent selected from the group consisting of maltitol, sorbitol, and corn syrup;
(3) about 5 to 35 weight percent dehydrated cheese;
(4) about 0.5 to 5 weight percent natural cheese flavors;
(5) about 3 to 25 weight percent food starch;
(6) about 0.2 to 8 weight percent of a cellulose-based thickening agent;
(7) about 0 to 15 weight percent whey protein concentrate;
(8) about 3 to 8 weight percent salt; and (9) about 0 to 15 weight percent water;
wherein the reduced-fat cheese-flavor snack filling has less than 15 weight percent fat and is effective as a filler for flour-based snack products.

2. A reduced-fat cheese-flavored snack filling as defined in claim 1, wherein the amount of water is adjusted to achieve a water activity of about 0.3 to 0.8.

3. A reduced-fat cheese-flavored snack filling as defined in claim 1, wherein the snack filling contains (1) about 20 to 30 weight percent glycerine; (2) about 5 to 20 weight percent of the binding agent; (3) about 10 to 33 weight percent dehydrated cheese; (4) about 0.5 to 3 weight percent natural cheese flavors; (5) about 10 to 20 weight percent food starch; (6) about 1 to 6 weight percent of the cellulose-based thickening agent; (7) about 0 to 15 weight percent whey protein concentrate;
(8) about 4 to 7 weight percent salt; and (9) about 0 to 15 weight percent water.

4. A reduced-fat cheese-flavored snack filling as defined in claim 3, wherein the whey protein concentrate is present at about 5 to 15 weight percent and the amount of water is adjusted to achieve a water activity of about 0.3 to 0.8.

5. A reduced-fat cheese-flavored snack filling as defined in claim 4, wherein the amount of water is adjusted to achieve a water activity of about 0.3 to 0.5.

6. A reduced-fat cheese-flavored snack filling as defined in claim 1, wherein the reduced-fat cheese-flavor snack filling has less than 10 weight percent fat.

7. A reduced-fat cheese-flavored snack filling as defined in claim 3, wherein the reduced-fat cheese-flavor snack filling has less than 10 weight percent fat.

8. A reduced-fat cheese-flavored snack filling as defined in claim 1, wherein the reduced-fat cheese-flavor snack filling has less than 2 weight percent fat.

9. A reduced-fat cheese-flavored snack filling as defined in claim 3, wherein the reduced-fat cheese-flavor snack filling has less than 2 weight percent fat.

10. A reduced-fat snack product comprising one or more flour-based crackers and at least one layer of a reduced-fat cheese-flavored filling adhered to the flour-based crackers, wherein the reduced-fat cheese-flavored filling comprises:
(1) about 15 to 40 weight percent glycerine;
(2) about 3 to 25 weight percent of a binding agent selected from the group consisting of maltitol, sorbitol, and corn syrup;
(3) about 5 to 35 weight percent dehydrated cheese;
(4) about 0.5 to 5 weight percent natural cheese flavors;
(5) about 3 to 25 weight percent food starch;
(6) about 0.2 to 8 weight percent of a cellulose-based thickening agent;
(7) about 0 to 15 weight percent whey protein concentrate;
(8) about 3 to 8 weight percent salt; and (9) about 0 to 15 weight percent water;
wherein the reduced-fat cheese-flavor snack filling has less than 15 weight percent fat and is effective as a filling for the flour-based crackers.

11. A reduced-fat snack product as defined in claim 10, wherein the amount of water in the filling is adjusted to achieve a water activity of about 0.3 to 0.5.

12. A reduced-fat snack product as defined in claim 10, wherein the filling contains (1) about 20 to 30 weight percent glycerine; (2) about 5 to 20 weight percent of the binding agent; (3) about 10 to 33 weight percent dehydrated cheese; (4) about 0.5 to 3 weight percent natural cheese flavors; (5) about 10 to 20 weight percent food starch; (6) about 1 to 6 weight percent of the cellulose-based thickening agent; (7) about 0 to 15 weight percent whey protein concentrate; (8) about 4 to 7 weight percent salt; and (9) about 0 to 15 weight percent water .

13 A reduced-fat snack product as defined in claim 12, wherein the whey protein concentrate is present in the filling at about 5 to 15 weight percent and the amount of water in the filling is adjusted to achieve a water activity of about 0.3 to 0.8.

14. A reduced-fat snack product as defined in claim 13, wherein the amount of water in the filling is adjusted to achieve a water activity of about 0.3 to 0.5.

15. A reduced-fat snack product as defined in claim 10, wherein the filling has less than 10 weight percent fat.

16. A reduced-fat snack product as defined in claim 12, wherein the filling has less than 10 weight percent fat.

17. A reduced-fat snack product as defined in claim 10, wherein the filling has less than 2 weight percent fat.

18. A reduced-fat snack product as defined in claim 12, wherein the filling has less than 2 weight percent fat.

19. A method for preparing a reduced-fat snack product having one or more crackers and one or more layers of reduced-fat cheese-flavored filling, said method comprising:
(a) preparing a dry blend comprising (1) about 1 to 30 weight percent dehydrated cheese, (2) about 0.2 to 5 weight percent natural cheese flavors, (3) about 5 to 40 weight percent food starch, (4) about 0.1 to 12 weight percent of a cellulose-based thickening agent, (5) about 0 to 25 weight percent whey protein concentrate, and (6) about 1 to 15 weight percent salt;
(b) preparing a wet blend comprising (1) about 5 to 75 weight percent glycerine, (2) about 5 to 75 weight percent of a binding agent selected from the group consisting of maltitol, sorbitol, and corn syrup, and about 0 to 15 weight percent water;
(c) preparing a reduced-fat cheese-flavored filling by blending, shortly before use, about 20 to 75 weight percent of the dry blend, about 25 to 80 weight percent of the wet blend, and about 0 to 15 water to form a homogenous mixture which is flowable at a temperature greater than about 50°F;
(d) applying a predetermined amount of the reduced-fat cheese-flavored filling, shortly after its preparation, to a cracker to form at least one layer of the reduced-fat cheese-flavored filling on at least one of the crackers in the reduced-fat snack product.

20. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein the dry blend contains (1) about 12 to 18 weight percent dehydrated cheese, (2) about 1 to 2 weight percent natural cheese flavors, (3) about 25 to 35 weight percent food starch, (4) about 8 to 12 weight percent of the cellulose-based thickening agent, (5) about 0 to 12 weight percent whey protein concentrate, and (6) about 8 to 10 weight percent salt; and wherein the wet blend contains (1) about 50 to 60 weight percent glycerine, (2) about 25 to 50 weight percent of the binding agent, and about 0 to 15 weight percent water.

21. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein the reduced-fat cheese-flavored filling is prepared by blending, shortly before use, about 45 to 65 weight percent of the dry blend, about 35 to 55 weight percent of the wet blend, and about 0 to 15 water to form a homogenous mixture which is flowable at a temperature greater than about 65°F.

22. A method as defined in claim 20, wherein the reduced-fat cheese-flavored filling is prepared by blending, shortly before use, about 45 to 65 weight percent of the dry blend, about 35 to 55 weight percent of the wet blend, and about 0 to 15 water to form a homogenous mixture which is flowable at a temperature greater than about 65°F.

23. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein the water content of the reduced-fat cheese-flavored filling is adjusted to obtain a water activity of about 0.3 to 0.8.

24. A method as defined in claim 22, wherein the water content of the reduced-fat cheese-flavored filling is adjusted to obtain a water activity of about 0.3 to 0.5.

25. A method as defined in claim 23, wherein the water content of the reduced-fat cheese-flavored filling is adjusted to obtain a water activity of about 0.3 to 0.5.